State lawmakers consider nixing city bag bans

A ban on plastic bag bans led to a lengthy scientific and political science debate Wednesday in Austin, one of a handful of cities that’s already sacked plastic bag use.

Titled the “Shopping Bag Freedom Act,” HB 2416, by Rep. Drew Springer, R-Meunster, enumerates in state law the right of business owners to provide customers a bag of their choice, and forbids counties and municipalities from infringing that right to provide plastic bags.

“Have we overstepped with a ban that comes between the consumer and the retailer,” Springer asked.

A handful of Texas cities ban stores from offering plastic bags. Austin is by far the largest, and has only had the ban in place for less than three weeks.

Supporters of the bans say outlawing plastic is better for the environment, citing other studies and calling some of Springer’s facts misleading. Many said banning the bans is not something state lawmakers should decide.

“We are talking about local control,” said Debbie Kreuser, an Austin resident who waited almost 10 hours to speak before the House urban affairs committee. “If (Austin residents) passed this bag ban, then that is what we wish.”

Critics of he bans, like Springer, decry the “nanny state” nature of telling shops what sort of sacks they can offer.

“I think it is bad for consumers, I think it is bad for businesses,” said Jenna White, a University of Texas law school student and Baytown native.